The US ultimatum for the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has expired, following which oil prices in the global market have surged past $100 per barrel and stock markets have experienced a decline. US President Donald Trump announced that the US is enforcing a strict economic and naval blockade against Iran, claiming that 158 Iranian vessels have been destroyed and warning that no Iranian ships will be allowed to exit. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the blockade’s enforcement, covering the Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
In response to the escalating crisis, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK and France are uniting over 40 countries and hosting a joint summit this week to secure freedom of navigation and reopen the vital trade route, though he emphasized that Britain will not join the war against Iran or support the blockade. Meanwhile, the European Union has demanded the immediate reopening of the Strait, warning that the closures and ongoing bombardment in Lebanon pose a severe threat to global trade, supply chains, and economic stability.
